Oscillating screen with hanger supports



NOV- 7, 1967 P. EPPENBERGER OSCILLATING SCREEN WITH HANGER SUPPORTS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 2, '1965 /A/VEA/TGR PAUL EPPENBERGE 31 NOV- 7, 1967 P. EPPENBERGER 3,351,201

OSCILLATING SCREEN WITH HANGER SUPPORTS B7 MMT 3,351,201 OSCILLATING SCREEN WITH HANGER SUPPORTS Paul Eppenberger, Auenhofen, Amriswil, Thurgau, Switzerland, assignor to Gebruder Buhler, Uzwil, Saint Gall, Switzerland Filed Oct. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 505,247 Claims priority, application Switzerland, May 24, 1961, 6,045/ 61 10 Claims. (Cl. 209--329) This is a continuation-in-part of my earlier pending application Ser. No. 197,148, now abandoned, and filed May 23, 1963, entitled, Machine Having an Oscillatory Member.

This invention relates in general to screen or sieve moving devices which may -be used e.g. in so-called middlings or semolina cleaning machines, and in particular t a new and useful device for oscillating and supporting a frame member adapted to carry a sieve element.

The invention has particular application in respect to a machine having an oscillatory member formed as an elongated substantially horizontally disposed carrier, and more particularly to a middlings or semolina cleaning machine.

In known machines of this type, the oscillatory member, as the sieve carrier in a middlings cleaning machine, usually is suspended by at least four points. This type of suspension results in a relatively expensive structure and is disadvantageous for the assembly and in operation. In this connection, it has to be mentioned that the precise radjustment of the sieve carrier in order to avoid torsional stress is a lengthy and tedious procedure which often has to be repeated periodically. Further disadvantages are present in ymiddlings cleaning ymachines of a known type in which the sieve carrier is suspended by means of four hangers which, in position of rest, are biased by spring action into an inclined position. During operation, according to the adjustable position `of inclination of the hangers, the material to be treated by the sieves of the sieve carrier, in addition to its usual transfer movement, is more `or less whirled up. For producing the required spring action, a spring is provided for each hanger of the conventioual middlings cleaning machine. The number of springs could be reduced to at least two but there is always a plurality of springs which have to be exactly adjusted one relatively to the other or to the suspension of the sieve carrier when the occurrence of free torsion forces is to be prevented.

It is an object of the invention to avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks. According to the invention, the oscillatory casing member is pivotally suspended at three points only.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device for supporting an oscillatory frame for oscillating swinging movement backwardly and forwardly as well as upwardly and downwardly at three suspension points.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for supporting an oscillatory member such as a sieve carrier from three separate hanger members, two of which are advantageously arranged for pivotal connection adjacent one end of the carrier and the other of which is arranged for central pivotal connection adjacent the opposite end of the carrier, and with a spring biasing at least one of the hangers, preferably the -front one, in a general direction away from the other hangers.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for supporting a frame member for a middlings cleaning machine and the like in a manner such that it will function to impart a backward and forward movement to a sieve carried thereby and in addition an upward whirling its ICC

movement, using a minimum number of parts and with only one biasing spring element being required.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for oscillatably supporting a carrier element which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view of a middlings cleaning machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises a so-called middlings cleaning machine generally designated 10 having a frame 12 of substantially block-shaped configuration enclosing a sieve carrier chamber 14. Disposed adjacent side walls 16 and 18 and close to a rear wall 20 of the frame 12 are mounting brackets 22 and 24, respectively, for spindle housings 26 and 28. A transverse adjusting shaft 30 is rotatably supported in the walls 16 and 18 and includes an extension extending out through the wall 16 and terminating in a hand wheel control 32. Shaft 30 carries gears 34 and 36 at respective opposite ends which engage respect-ive gears 38 and 40 which are fast on respective shafts 42 and 43, respectively, which shafts are rotatable but axially fixed. Shafts 42 and 43 are threaded intermediate their length and each carries a nut 44 (FIG. 2) which is threadably engaged thereon and is advanced upon '0- tation of the shaft. Each nut 44 carries respective laterally projecting pins 45 and 46 which project outwardly from each side and are guided in the housings 26 and 28, respectively. The pins 45 and 46 (FIG. 2) form pivot elements for hangers or supporting levers 47 and 48, re-

specti-vely.

In accordance with the invention, the hangers 47 and 48 are respectively connected to projecting pin elements 50 and 52 extending outwardly from respective side walls 54 and 56 of a sieve carrier lor oscillating member generally designated 58. The hangers 47 and 48 pivotally support each side of the oscillatable member 58 adjacent this end thereof.

The invention provides for oscillatable support at the other end of the oscillatable member 58 by means of a centrally arranged hanger 60 (FIG. 4) which is advantageously of a triangular shape and which is provided with hub portion 62 at each end of the base thereof for rotatably embracing a rod member 64 carried between frame members 66 and 68 on an extension of the oscillatable member 58. The apex 0f the hanger 60 is provided with a ring-shaped or cylindrical formation 70 which is rotatable on a cylindrical pivot or pin 72 which is, in turn, guided in a slot defined in spindle housing 74. The pin 72 is carried by an internally threaded nut member 76 which is threadably engaged on an adjusting spindle 78. The threaded adjusting spindle 78 is rotatably supported in the spindle housing 74 and includes a portion which extends through an end wall 80 of the frame 12 and terminates in an adjusting wheel 82.

In the embodiment illustrated, the hangers 47, 48 and 60 may be adjusted in respect to their suspension points or pivots simultaneously by rotating either hand wheel as would rotation of the hand wheel 32. The same driving elements or sieves 61. At a location on the carrier 58,`

which may be either the end adjacent the two hangers 47 and 48, or the end adjacent the hanger 60, (or even the central portion of the frame) is provided with oscillatable means comprising an oscillation movement producing device generally designated 90. The oscillation movement producing device 90, as indicated in FIG. l, includes rotatable masses 92 which are rotatable through gearing 94.

In the embodiment illustrated, the oscillatable device 90 is operated through a driving pulley 96 through a driving motor (not shown) which may, for example, be mounted in a rear compartment 98 of the oscillatable frame member 58. The device 90 provides a free swing driving momentum, when rotated, to cause the described movement of the oscillatable member 58. During operation, the backward and forward movement and upward and downward movement of the sieve carrier 58 provides operation within the compartments having the sieve element 61, as indicated in FIG. 4, independently of each other, but of course each subjected to the same rocking movement. In a preferred arrangement the hanger 60 is located outside the zone of discharge of the sieve 61.

A feature of the invention is that the centrally located single hanger 60 is biased in a generally rearwardly and upwardly direction by a compression spring 100 adjacent its lower end at the pivotal location to the frame. The spring 100 is retained around a rod member 102 which is pivotally mounted at its inner end on a bracket 104 and which has a retaining plate or cup 106 at its outer end which engages the outer end of the spring 100. The inner end of the spring bears against the hanger 60 and urges the forward suspension of the hanger with the oscillatable frame member 58 in a direction to the right, as indicated in FIG. l.

In the middlings cleaning machine according to the invention, a particular adjustment of the suspension of the sieve carrier 58 is not required because it is suspended at three points. Adjustment of the inclination of the hangers is no problem since a scale may be associated with each hanger adjustment wheel 32 and 82 for indicating any desired adjustment. The great advantage of the device is that it is no longer necessary to make the diflicult and cumbersome adjustment of a plurality of springs for determining the inclination of the hangers. A single spring only is provided in the machine according to the invention and the spring force acts symmetrically in respect to the suspension of the sieve carrier 58. This structure, which is free of any torsional stress, has been found to be surprisingly advantageous in practice, since the sieve carrier and the driving unit 90 can be constructed in a simple and lighter manner and inexpensively. For a machine having the same output as the conventional type, the invention results in the reduction of the required space and the cost of manufacture and of operation.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for supporting anl oscillatable member such as a screencornprising a frame, a substantially rectangular member supported on said frame for reciprocative movement in substantially longitudinal and up and down directions, means including a free swing drive for reciprocating said rectangular member, iirst and second hangers carried by said frame adjacent their upper ends and having their lower ends pivotally connected to said rectangular member adjacent one `end of said rectangular` member and at laterally spaced locations in respect thereto, a third hanger carried by said frame adjacent its upper end and having its lower end pivotally connected to the central portion of said rectangular member adjacent the opposite end of said rectangular member from the connections of said first and second hangers, and spring means carried by said frame bearing only on said third hanger and urging said hanger to a position of rest.

2. A device according to claim 1, including means connecting said first, second and third hangers to said frame permitting the adjustable positioning thereof.

3. A device according to claim 1, including means for pivotally supporting said third hanger on said frame permitting independent adjustment of the position of the third hanger on said frame, comprising a transverse shaft extending across said` frame and rotatably mounted thereon adjacent said iirst and second hangers, a threaded spindle for each first and second and third hanger, a member deiining a pivot threadably engaged with a respective one of said threaded spindles and being displaceable therealong by rotation of said spindle, a cardan shaft connected to the threaded spindle for said third hanger for rotating said threaded spindle upon rotation of said cardan shaft,l and gear means connecting said transverse shaft and said` cardan shaft and said transverse shaft and the threaded spindle for said rst and second hangers for rotation t0- gether.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said third hanger is of triangular coniigurationlwith its apex supported on said frame and with its base connected to said rectangular member.

5. A middlings cleaning machine comprising a frame, a sieve carrier, tirst and second hangers pivotally connected to said frame at their one ends and having :re-V

spective opposite ends pivotally connected to respective oppostie sides of said carrier adjacent its one longitudinal end, a third hanger pivotally connected to said frame at its one end and pivotally connected to said sieve carrier substantially centrally between the sides thereof adjacent the opposite end of said carrier from the first and second hangers, and spring means biasing only said third hanger in one selected longitudinal direction, and a free swing drive mounted on said sieve carrier for producing an oscillatory movement thereof as said carrier is held by said hangers.

6. A middlings cleaning machine comprising a frame,

a sieve carrier, first and second hangers pivotally conl nected to said frame at their own ends and having respective opposite ends pivotally connected to respective opposite sides of said carrier adjacent its one longitudinal end, a third hanger pivotally connected to said frame at its one end and pivotally connected to said sieve carrier substantially centrally between the sides thereof adjacent the opposite end of said carrier from the first and second a sieve carrier, first and second hangers pivotally connected to said frame at their one ends and having respective opposite ends pivotally connected to respective opposite sides of said carrier adjacent its one longitudinal end, a third hanger pivotally connected to said frame at its one end and pivotally connected to said sieve carrier substantially centrally between the sides thereof adjacent the opposite end of said carrier from the first and second hangers, and spring means biasing only said third hanger in one selected longitudinal direction, and a free swing drive connected to said sieve carrier for producing an oscillatory movement thereof as said carrier is held by said hangers, means on said frame for pivotally supporting said hangers on said frame, and means for adjusting the position of said supporting means for varying the pivotal suspension location of said hangers, said means effecting the simultaneous adjustment of each of the pivot points of said hangers.

8. A middlings cleaning machine comprising a fname, a sieve carrier, first and second hangers pivotally connected to said frame at their one ends and having respective Opposite ends pivotally connected to respective opposite Sides of said carrier adjacent its one longitudinal end, a third hanger pivotally connected to said frame at its one end and pivotally connected to said sieve carrier substantially centrally between the sides thereof adjacent the opposite end of said carrier lfrom the first and second hangers, and spring means biasing said third hanger in one selected longitudinal direction, and a free swing drive connected to said sieve carrier for producing an oscillatory movement thereof as said carrier is held by said hangers, said third hanger being of a triangular configuration and having a -base portion substantially parallel to an end of said oscillatable sieve carrier and pivotally connected to said sieve carrier along an axis substantially parallel to the base of said triangular hanger.

9. A device for supporting an oscillatable member such as a sieve comprising a frame, a substantially rectangular longitudinally extending carrier, first and second hangers each having one end pivotally connected to said carrier adjacent respective opposite sides and at a location adjacent the one end thereof, a third hanger having one end pivotally connected to said carrier adjacent the opposite end thereof and centrally in respect thereto, means for pivotally suspending said first, second and third hangers from said frame, and a free swing drive mounted on said carrier for producing vibratory movement of said carrier in foward and backwad and upward and downward directions while said carrier is suspended by said first, second and third hangers, and spring means biasing only said third hanger adjacent its connection to said frame in a direction away from said first and second hangers.

l0. A device for supporting an oscillatable member such as a sieve comprising a frame, a substantially rec tangular longitudinally extending carrier, first and second hangers each having one end pivotally connected to said carrier adjacent respective opposite sides and at a location adjacent the one end thereof, a third hanger having one end pivotally connected to said carrier adjacent the oppo site end thereof and centrally in respect thereto, means for pivotally suspending said first, second and third hangers from said frame, and a free swing drive connected to said carrier for producing vibrfatory movement of said carrier in forward and ybackward and upward and downward directions while said carrier is `suspended by said first, second and third hangers, and spring means biasing only said third hanger adjacent its connection to said frame in a direction away from said first and second hangers, said spring means including a rod member pivotally connected to said frame, a compression spring carried by said rod member and bearing against said third hanger.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 55,152 5/1866 Ogborn 209-331 1,005,900 10/ 1911 Stromborg 209-269 2,058,870 10/ 1936 Hazle et al. 209-329 2,563,081 8/1951 Tanner 209-415 X 2,901,111 8/ 1959 Eppenberger 209-344 FOREIGN PATENTS 417,280 10/1934 Great Britain.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

R. HALPER, Assistant Examiner. 

5. A MIDDLINGS CLEANING MACHINE COMPRISING A FRAME, A SIEVE CARRIER, FIRST AND SECOND HANGERS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME AT THEIR ONE ENDS AND HAVING RESPECTIVE OPPOSITE ENDS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO RESPECTIVE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CARRIER ADJACENT ITS ONE LONGITUDINAL END, A THIRD HANGER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME AT ITS ONE END AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SIEVE CARRIER SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY BETWEEN THE SIDES THEREOF ADJACENT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID CARRIER FROM THE FIRST AND SECOND HANGERS, AND SPRING MEANS BIASING ONLY SAID THIRD HANGER IN ONE SELECTED LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION, AND A FREE SWING DRIVE MOUNTED ON SAID SIEVE CARRIER FOR PRODUCING AN OSCILLATORY MOVEMENT THEREOF AS SAID CARRIER IS HELD BY SAID HANGERS. 